Why are education and religiosity +ly correlated among mormons and -ly correlated among other christians?

Question

"The LDS-affiliated Brigham Young University also conducted survey research into education levels and religiosity displayed among the Mormons. 41% of Mormons with only elementary school education attend Church regularly. By contrast, 76% of Mormon college graduates attend Church regularly and 78% of Mormons who went beyond their college degrees to do graduate study attend Church regularly. As Mormons attain more education, it seems, they become more devout.[14] These findings, again, contrast with national norms; national survey data published by the Princeton Religious Research Center indicate that the higher the level of educational attainment, the lower the level of religious zeal. [15]"

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religiosity_and_intelligence

Answer 1

This is a really good and interesting question. I can only hazard a guess. First my bias - I am a non-Mormon Christian with a graduate degree.
Mormons may be (probably are) self-selecting for Mormon schools (eg, BYU). The climate there is going to be supportive of Mormon religious observance. Contrast this to other colleges and universities, even historically Christian ones, many of which are now fairly hostile places for believing Christians. Christians may be self-selecting out of higher education programs for this reason (or some other reason - want to start families earlier? are Mormon colleges more comfortable for married students than State U?), or may even be discriminated against in some fields.

Looking forward to other answers to this question

Answer 2

well the survey was done at BYU which means they may have geared their studies towards members of the mormon church rather than towards christians in general..as mormons ARE also christians..

THAT SAID....

WHAT IS OF INTEREST TO ME..IS THAT THEY did CONTRAST THAT WITH OTHER GROUPS..when it was said:These findings, again, contrast with national norms; national survey data published by the Princeton Religious Research Center indicate that the higher the level of educational attainment, the lower the level of religious zeal. [15]"

my guess is that Princeton did their surveys over a wider spectrum than just the LDS Church...

Mormons are NOT all rich..IN FACT...I'D BE WILLING TO SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF MORMONS ARE ANYTHING BUT...

REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MORE MEMBERS OUTSIDE OF THE US THAN INSIDE...and Spanish and Portuguese are the 2nd and 3rd most frequent spoken languages in the church...that should say something as well..in that most of our members are actually in countries from Mexico down to Brasil and on down to Chile and Argentina...not to mention everywhere else..

and STILL there are plenty of members who get their educations...and YES WE do CREDIT our abilities to our Father in Heaven...he gave us the talent we have..we just use it to the best of our ability..

Answer 3

I was raised Mormon and I'm a return missionary but I don't attend anymore. However I have many friends that do. Their all college graduates and some of them have their Masters Degrees. I think they credit their faith in the church for the strength and educational success they've attained.

Answer 4

I read about this study. I know why, too.

It's because our teachings are not only greatly spiritual, but greatly LOGICAL. The more a person learns about the world, and everything, the more they know that what we teach is the truth.

For instance:

Doctrine & Covenants 93: 36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.

D&C 131: 7 There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes;
8 We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter.

Proverbs 1: 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 ¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

I was brought up protestant. It just seemed like, the more a person gained knowledge, it seemed like the protestant brand of "Christianity" just didn't make sense.

Answer 5

The church is built around service and to be able to serve well is a lifetime endeavor. Mitt Romney shut down his organization, Hired a private detective, and sent all his people including himself into the streets of New York to look for a daughter of a co worker who was lost for three days. (she was found in a basment almost dead from a drug overdose). You are more active when you are busy serving.

Answer 6

This reminds me by the supposedly trustworthy study that led to the finding of the "gay gene." The problem? The researcher was gay. Brigham Young University wants Mormons to attend their college, so they play off of their religiosity by claiming it will help their devotion and by finding "facts" to suport their hypothesis - how convenient! It would be better if a double blind study were conducted by a disinterested third party - then I might be inlcined to believe the data...

Answer 7

And that's changing very rapidly, if you haven't noticed religion, especially Christianity has became a very popular subject and getting more so ever second......so what does that tell you......maybe instead of looking to see who's got the most education.....maybe you need to think for yourself, you could be following a bunch stupid ,educated people to hell.......

Answer 8

Also, theists make up a higher proportion of the prison population in comparison to the general population than atheists (atheists are about 12% of the population and only 2% of the prison population).

Answer 9

Okay Midge....obviously, you haven't met a lot of Mormons...

That is an interesting statistic you have. I really have no explanation for it. Perhpaps, it just boils down to their beliefs. Those who have gone farther, believe they have been "blessed," so continue to believe. Those who struggled, had a harder time accepting their fate, so to speak.

Answer 10

i dont know why? do you have the answer? then will you mind sharing it with us? thank you so very much for your help.